Blower having wire holding structure

ABSTRACT

A blower includes a housing, a motor disposed in the housing, a wire extending out of the housing, and a wire holding structure. One end of the wire is electrically connected to an external power source, and the other end thereof is electrically connected with the motor, thereby supplying the motor with power. The wire holding structure comprises a pole extending from the housing to allow the wire winding therearound.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Relevant subject matter is disclosed in a co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. filed on the same date with the present application and entitled “FAN HAVING WIRE SECURING MECHANISM”, assigned to the same assignee with this patent application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to blowers, and more particularly to a blower having a wire holding structure.

2. Description of related art

A blower generally includes a housing, a motor with an impeller housed within the housing, and a wire extending out of the housing with one end connected to the motor and the other end with a socket connector extending out of the housing and connected with a desired plug connector.

The wire of the blower is generally kept long enough to suit various applications. However, in many situations, the length of the wire is longer than a distance from a place, where the blower is set, to the desired plug connector. The excess portion of the wire is generally loosely laid in the electrical system where the blower is positioned. If the excess portion of the wire contacts a heated part in the electrical system, the wire may burn.

What is desired, therefore, is a blower which has a wire holding structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a blower includes a housing, a motor disposed in the housing, a wire extending out of the housing, and a wire holding structure. The wire is electrically connected with the motor. The wire holding structure comprises a pole extending from the housing to allow the wire winding therearound.

Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a blower in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, the blower including a wire holding structure and a wire extending therefrom;

FIG. 2 is an inverted view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but showing an excess portion of the wire being wound on the wire holding structure of the blower;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a blower in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a circled portion V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a blower in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a blower in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in a first embodiment of the present invention, a blower includes a housing 10, a wire holding structure 18 formed on the housing 10, a motor (not visible) with a cap 30 covering a top thereof disposed to the housing 10, a plurality of fan blades 32 extending and surrounding the cap 30, and a wire 40 electrically connected to the motor with one end thereof.

The housing 10 includes a flat top plate, a flat bottom plate opposite to the top plate, and a side portion 14 connecting edges of the top and bottom plates. A circular inlet 12 is defined in a center of the top plate. An opposite end of the wire 40 extends out through the bottom plate and is connected with a socket connector (not shown). An outlet 16 is defined in the housing 10. When the fan blades 32 are driven by the motor to rotate, air is drawn into the housing 10 through the inlet 12 and expelled from the outlet 16. The wire holding structure 18 is formed on the side portion 14. The wire holding structure 18 includes a first tab 20 adjacent the top plate and projecting from an upper portion of the side portion 14, a second tab 24 adjacent the bottom plate and projecting from a lower portion of the side portion 14, opposite to the first tab 20, and a resilient pole 22 extending down from the first tab 20 toward the second tab 24. A gap 26 is formed between a distal end of the pole 22 and the second tab 24. A width of the gap 26 is appreciably smaller than a diameter of the wire 40. The wire holding structure 18 and the side portion 14 cooperatively define a receiving space 28 to accommodate the wire 40.

Referring also to FIG. 3, in use, if the length of the wire 40 is longer than a distance between a location that the blower is disposed, to a desired plug connector, the wire 40 is transversely urged through the gap 26 of the wire holding structure 18 and is wound onto the pole 22, until an excess portion of the wire 40 is satisfactorily secured. The smaller width of the gap 26 prevents the wound portion of the wire 40 from slipping out of the receiving space 28 through the gap 26 and/or unwinding, while the resiliency of the pole 22 allows the wire 40 to be forced through the gap 26 without damage to the wire 40 by application of an adequate force by a user.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 together, in a second embodiment of the present invention, a wire holding structure 50 is formed on a housing 59 of a blower. Differences of the wire holding structure 50 from the above-mentioned wire holding structure 18 are that a first resilient lip 54 extends upward from a distal end of a pole 52 to be adjacent a corresponding second tab 56, and a second lip 57 extends downward from the second tab 56 to meet with the first lip 54 to cover a gap between the second tab 56 and the distal end of the pole 52. The wire holding structure 50 and a side portion 53 of the housing 59 cooperatively define a receiving space 55 to accommodate a wire 58. The pole 52 of the wire holding structure 50 is pressed to drive the first lip 54 to part from the corresponding second lip 57, the wire 58 enters into the receiving space 55 and is wound onto the pole 52.

Referring to FIG. 6, in a third embodiment of the present invention, a generally C-shaped wire holding structure 68 is formed on a side portion 62. The wire holding structure 68 includes a tab 70 projecting out from the side portion 62, and a pole 72 bent upward from the tab 70. A resilient stopping portion 74 is bent toward the side portion 62 from a distal end of the pole 72, and a gap 76 is formed between a distal end of the stopping portion 74 and the side portion 62. A width of the gap 76 is appreciably smaller than a diameter of a wire 79. The wire holding structure 68 and the side portion 62 cooperatively define a receiving space 77. In use, the wire 79 is received in the receiving space 77 through the gap 76, and wound onto the pole 72 of the wire holding structure 68. The resiliency of the stopping portion 74 allows the wire 79 to be force through the gap 76 without damage to the wire 79 by application of an adequate force by a user. The stopping portion 74 and the smaller gap 76 prevent the wound portion of the wire 79 from slipping off and/or unwinding.

Referring to FIG. 7, in a fourth embodiment of the present invention, a generally T-shaped wire holding structure 83 extends from a bottom plate of a housing 80 of a blower. The wire holding structure 83 includes a pole 85 extending from the bottom plate of the housing 80, and a circular stopping head 87 formed at a distal end of the pole 85. A diameter of the stopping head 87 is greater than that of the pole 85. When a wire 89 is wound onto the pole 85 of the wire holding structure 83, the stopping head 87 prevents the wound portion of the wire 89 from slipping off and/or unwinding.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A blower comprising: a housing; a motor disposed in the housing; a wire electrically connected with the motor and extending out of the housing; and a wire holding structure comprising a pole extending from the housing to allow the wire winding therearound.
 2. The blower as described in claim 1, wherein the wire holding structure comprises a pair of tabs projecting from the housing, the pole is deformable and extends from one of the tabs toward the other one of the tabs thereof.
 3. The blower as described in claim 2, wherein the wire holding structure and the housing cooperatively define a receiving space, and a gap is formed between a distal end of the pole and the corresponding tab of the wire holding structure, configured for allowing the wire to pass through and enter into the receiving space.
 4. The blower as described in claim 2, wherein a first resilient lip and a second lip respectively extend from a distal end of the pole of the wire holding structure and the corresponding tab thereof meeting each other.
 5. The blower as described in claim 4, wherein the wire holding structure and the housing cooperatively define a receiving space, and the wire enters into the receiving space via urging the first lip of the wire holding structure to part from the second lip thereof.
 6. The blower as described in claim 1, wherein the wire holding structure is generally C-shaped in profile, and comprises a tab projecting out from the housing, the pole bent from the tab, and a resilient stopping portion bent toward the housing from a distal end of the pole.
 7. The blower as described in claim 6, wherein the wire holding structure and the housing cooperatively define a receiving space, and a gap is formed between a distal end of the pole of the wire holding structure and the housing, configured for allowing the wire to pass through and enter into the receiving space.
 8. The blower as described in claim 1, wherein the wire holding structure generally takes the form of a “T” that stands above the housing.
 9. The blower as described in claim 8, wherein a stopping head is formed at a distal end of the pole, and a diameter of the stopping head is greater than the diameter of the pole.
 10. A blower comprising: a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a circumferential surface connecting the top surface with the bottom surface; a motor disposed in the housing and surrounded by the circumferential surface; a wire electrically connected with the motor and extending out of the housing; and a wire holding structure extending from the circumferential surface of the housing, the wire holding structure comprising a pole spaced from the circumferential surface with a receiving space formed therebetween to allow the wire extending through the receiving space and winding around the pole.
 11. The blower as claimed in claim 10, wherein the receiving space is encircled by the circumferential surface cooperating with the wire holding structure except a gap through which the wire is capable of entering into the receiving space.
 12. The blower as claimed in claim 11, wherein the gap is substantially covered by two deformable lips, one of the lips extending downwardly from one portion of the wire holding structure above the gap, the other one of the lips extending upwardly from another portion of the wire holding structure below the gap.
 13. A blower comprising: a housing; a wire holding structure protruding from the housing, the wire holding structure comprising a pole; a motor disposed in the housing; and a wire electrically connected with the motor and extending out of the housing, the wire capable of winding around the pole with a plurality of loops to retain an excess portion of the wire to the housing when a length of the wire is in excess of a distance from the blower to an external power source.
 14. The blower as claimed in claim 13, wherein the housing comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, and a circumferential surface connecting the top surface with the bottom surface.
 15. The blower as claimed in claim 14, wherein the pole extends upward from the bottom surface of the housing, a stopping portion being formed at a distal end of the pole to prevent the wire from slipping off from the pole.
 16. The blower as claimed in claim 14, wherein the wire holding structure extends from the circumferential surface of the housing, and the pole is spaced from the circumferential surface with a receiving space formed therebetween to allow the wire extending through the receiving space and winding around the pole. 